Mahindra e2o full Review

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Man created ways to better living since the moment he discovered fire and invented the wheel. The most interesting part about existence is the way priorities change in regards to technological innovations. The pursuits of commutation took a turn from domestic animal run carts to motor vehicles considering the strain animals are put through and obviously the time taken by domestic transportation. Eventually as the population increased and the motor vehicles became ubiquitous, the availability of petroleum products decreased which ultimately led to the search for new resources. Very few companies understood the gravity of the natural resources unavailability and even fewer actually did something to tackle it. In 1994, one such Indian company, Mani Group, rose to the automobile industry in joint venture with AEV LLC from USA, to create the country’s first EV which was aimed to provide best in the industry performance and a global appeal. The company thus formed, Reva Electric Car Company was a successful effort towards innovation and performance. For an electric vehicle, it performed exceptionally well at surprisingly low costs. These efforts were soon recognised by another innovative company Mahindra and Mahindra. The giant immediately bought a 55.2 per cent stake in the Reva stock and the brand soon became Mahindra Reva.

The manufacturing facilities of Mahindra Reva are equally environmental friendly by creating an ultra low carbon assembly plant which was certified platinum by the Indian Green Building Council. With state-of-the-art facilities and a constant thirst for innovation, the Reva-i model was launched first with a spread of 24 countries and counting. In UK, the Reva EV became known as the G-Wiz and it received a decent response for its innovative efforts. Over the years Mahindra Reva tried hard to create a product which would maintain the manufacturing costs at a low par so that the finished product could be economical while at the same time, creating a vehicle which had a great dynamics. After repeated concepts and years of innovation and design efforts, the company released a concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Show named Mahindra Reva NXR. It further developed the vehicle and created a commercial version, naming it e2o. The 'e' in the name stands for the energy from the sun which is largely clean and the letter 'o' refers to the oxygen which is considered the greatest source of life on the Earth. The '2' is included as a conjunction so that the abbreviation would mean ‘a clean energy - to - have a better life’. The Lithium ion batteries used in the Mahindra e2o are of the latest generation, which offer better battery life. The expected battery life of a Mahindra e2o on full charge is 100 kilometers. As the EV is designed specifically with city commuters as the targeted customers, the 100 kilometer capacity should remain apt for urban use.

The interesting and relieving feature of Mahindra e20 is the ease of utilising the charging facilities. Being charged through a 15 ampere plug point, the portability of e2o stands out as its speciality. This facility allows it to be charged at home or the workplace and practically any place that can provide a 15 amp charging point. Additionally there are charging stations designed especially for the EVs. Though the population density of EVs is not as high so as to accommodate enough charging stations, with increasing environmental concern and people stepping in for better ways of living, the dream of having an electric charging station with a density similar to that of its petrol counterpart does not seem too far fetched. Mahindra was smart in understanding the increasing requirements of the automobile enthusiasts and customers alike and implemented the innovative solution set in the new e2o. Along with a dedicated performance it delivers as a car, it is also accessorised with all the comforts such as remote AC operations, an intelligent iEMS system and the regenerative braking and most importantly, a dedicated Reva Apps Store which can give a run time pleasurable experience to the tech savvy customers. All these efforts and the improved bodywork, give Mahindra e2o a better edge over the other electric vehicles in the world of automobiles. The e2o comes as a two door hatchback with a spacious seating for four passengers. The EV is reminiscent of a coupe in the way the body is built, with front row of seats folded down for the rear passengers to step in. But it is superior to a coupe at least in terms of seating comfort. Taking into account the fragile body of initial variants, the new e2o has a best-in-class build which provides safety to the passenger as well as the vehicle as a whole. Though the engine does not speak in the traditional automobile language such as displacement, capacity and the ilk, the parameters of an 81 kmph top speed and 53 Nm at 0 to 3400 rpm offer a promising product. Excellence, beauty, innovation and vision are a few words that best define this EV.

Mahindra e2o Mileage

The charging time taken by the Mahindra e2o is an amazing 5 hours for full charge, that is a couple of hours over the ordinary mobile phone charging. In terms of distance covered, one hour charge time ensures 20 km driving rangefrom a standard 220 V 15 A socket. The fuel to this 3 phase induction motor is the charge to Lithium Ion batteries which clearly do not cause any sort of environmental damage. The 100 km drive range under test conditions was a successful target achieved with a Mahindra e2o.

Power of Mahindra e2o

The three phase induction motor does not offer the performance of a petrol or diesel powered car, but it sure does provide a decent power figure for city commuting. Mahindra ensured giving the vehicle the best performance possible by offering an output of 19 kW at 3750 rpm and a decent 53Nm torque at 0 to 3400 rpm.

Mahindra e2o Colours

These colors are available with all variants of Mahindra e2o

 Arctic Silver Coral Blue Eco Green Sunfire Yellow Oceanic White Spanish Red

Acceleration & Pick-Up

The Mahindra e2o offers an automatic transmission which seems accurate for the electronic vehicle specifications. The gear shifting and other parameters might cause excessive battery usage, therefore the simple automatic option enables an easy ride for the driver though it means quicker depletion of the battery at times. with a complete charge, the Mahindra e2o runs for 100 km and the top speed attained by the vehicle is 81 kmph.

Mahindra e2o Exteriors

View Mahindra e2o Exterior Pictures

Mahindra dramatically improved the new version of Reva, giving it a contemporary statement and a fresh feel which acts as a major support to the already existing success of the EV. Being an EV, the manufacturer has to compromise on a few factors that other petrol and other fuel operating vehicles with traditional engines can facilitate. The exteriors of an electric vehicle cannot be made huge as this would create an issue with the motor operating the vehicle in the first place. Being a three phase induction motor, the motor always has a limit to the weight it can accommodate without unnecessary loss of power. Considering four passengers with average weight and a decent amount of luggage, the motor should be able to let the electric vehicle move also taking into account the weight of the electric vehicle itself. Though the top speed of the vehicle is only 81 kmph, the aerodynamics of the Mahindra e2o are still maintained at top possible dimensions and curves. The front fascia features a traditional car appeal. In an attempt to allow the e2o blend in with the other automobiles in the market, unlike the old Reva models, which had a distinct exterior design subjecting them to a varied perspective showers, the Mahindra e2o features a front grill with the Mahindra logo over it. The hexagonal grill has minor benzene and circle structures across the grill, giving it a distinct texture. The headlamps feature a well lit structure and unlike usual structures, they extend to the side portions of the vehicle almost to the centre of the wheel arches. The facility to place fog lamps is also given in the front at the bumper area. Though the body apparently does not have a traditional external bumper, Mahindra and Mahindra claim the structure has a robust inbuilt bumper that protects the passengers during any collision impacts. The low bumper cheeks in the front are prominent in the Mahindra e2o with projection portions for the fog lamps and the extended width due to relatively edge placed tyres that have their wheel arches extending the width down. The width of the EV, though compact, does not necessarily make it odd looking. The bonnet extends from the front grill along the headlamps to the end of windshield. It is essentially a simple structure with individual pieces joined as large chunks completing a puzzle. The sleek extension of the headlamps offers a decent statement which is re built with the details on the bonnet and the wheel arches and along the bumper rear. The side view of the Mahindra e2o features a well designed and polished structure. The detailing of the Mahindra e2o at the sides is simply amazing with bright and prominent curves and embossing which boast the EV’s rich build when passed through the street.

The Mahindra e2o is a two door vehicle, hence the small length of the vehicle would not hamper the external detailing. Reminiscent of the basic design of cars, the e2o nevertheless maintains a rich contemporary outlook in its design, thanks to the Mahindra and Reva team’s extensive research and undying passion. The 'U' shaped detail on the side view creates an obvious block structure on the doors, defining its authority. The name ‘Reva’ is scripted on the side portion of the Mahindra e2o near the rear view mirrors claiming its innovative efforts towards the vehicles creation. The wheel arches are less prominent in the rear wheel set probably due to the extended length of the EV as the length came to the boot. The vehicles top view has its front structured narrower than the rear, giving it an easy manoeuvring facility. The windows of the Mahindra e2o extend along the pillar A towards the rear windshield. The synchronised structure of windows, front windshield and the roof offer an aesthetic statement of contemporary design and art of the Mahindra e2o. The rear window pair is a part of the EV’s dynamics and cannot be slid down. The front windows however can be slid down and work as a perfect car. Since there is no engine, the three phase induction motor is placed in the front part, specifically way near the dash so that any collision impacts would not sabotage the vehicle’s performance. The exhaust output is kept at the grill. The main source of working, the latest Lithium Ion batteries are organised in a row under the front seating position. These are arranged as four sets of batteries.

The rear shaft moves the rear wheels as in a usual vehicle. This well distributed chassis helps the vehicle in maintaining stability against the worst scenarios. The rear fascia of the Mahindra e2o features a large lower bumper with a pair of parking lights at the lower end of the rear side in the middle and a pair of tail lamps which extend to the side positions terminating the rear windows, are placed at the edges specifically along the boot door. The rear windshield is big enough to give the driver a proper view of the environment around them. The detailing even on the boot door has a very prominent and stylish character adding up to its already futuristic appeal. The rear number plate is positioned in the mid-zone of the rear bumper giving it a prominence and a groovy look. The fifteen inch tyres give the vehicle the wheelbase and ground clearance which it deserves to offer a decent city commute as most of the bumpers and speed breakers affect the vehicle otherwise. The chassis has a strong build. And due to its easy structure, the damage even in the case of worst collisions can be avoided. The charging point is placed in the boot. This might seem odd to have to open the boot every time it needs to be charged, but considering the environmental damage the car batteries would be prone to if the port is exposed, this does seem a convenient option. The antenna is placed in the front area. The top has a simple structure so that excessive weight due to the metal framework can be avoided at least in the roof. The exterior colours are offered in a wider range satisfying the commercial requirements of the customers. The Mahindra e2o is offered in Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Eco Green, Oceanic While, Spanish Red and Sunfire Yellow. Whatever be the colour, the extensive detailing in the framework make any colour sparkle.

Exterior Measurement

The exteriors of the Mahindra e2o have a decent measurements making it as appealing as a regular automobile. The Mahindra e2o extends to a height of 3280 mm and has a height of 1560 mm. Making the commuting in cities an easy task, the width of the electric vehicle is designed at a 1514 mm which helps it go through even the narrow streets. The Mahindra e2o offers a decent ground clearance of 180 mm helping it to commute through the speed breakers and uneven roads with ease. The height ground clearance enables vehicle in a having its chassis unaffected by the roads and unexplored paths. The wheelbase of the Mahindra e2o is 1958 mm and the turning radius is a pleasantly surprising 3.9 meters.

Mahindra e2o Interior

The interiors of the Mahiunhdra e2o are amazingly spacious which is surprising  considering the previous versions of the Mahindra Reva. Mahindra also offered a four seater facility for this vehicle making it a family car. The two door structure however implies that the front seats need to be bent down to step in and step out of the rear seats. The head room and the knee room are amazingly spacious in the new Mahindra e2o. Though the coupe structured interiors deceive in the interior opinions, they are pleasantly comfortable and not different from most of the traditional cars. If anything, these are more stylish in appeal. The front dash has a rich build. The air conditioning facility is smart and can be operated remotely. The seats are well structured offering a better ergonomic statement for the passenger. The digital driver information system offers an attractive display system which gives information about the drive mode, odometer, state of charge (so that the driver is notified about the battery status), messages display and speed display, The efficiency gauge and distance to empty are also calculated and displayed in the screen.

Interior Comfort

Interiors are really comfortable in the Mahindra e2o. The interiors feature the first EV to have an App store. The Mahindra e2o comes with a personalised application store where air conditioning can be operated remotely, the vehicle can even be locked and unlocked remotely. In the entertainment department too, the Mahindra e2o offers a unique patented REVive technology which uses a reserve charge in the car to continue the journey when the vehicle breaks down. The application can be operated through the EV itself or through the smartphone application. But of all the applications enabled for remote monitoring and control, the most useful and simply brilliant remains the remote diagnostics. The 10 on board computers working relentlessly in the Mahindra e2o offer a real time drive information which include energy status, the expected distance which the vehicle can accommodate, the vehicle temperature at various zones and the analysis of the drivers EV usage.

Interior Measurement

The interiors are spacious and the external 3280 mm length ensures a large legroom is offered not just for the front seat row but for the rear too. The vehicle has a kerb weight of 830 kgs.

Mahindra e2o Engine and Performance

The functioning of the vehicle is based on a three phase induction motor which charges through a 220 V, 15 A socket. On a full charge the vehicle can perform up to 100 km under tested conditions. The average of 1 hour charging for 20 km drive seems pretty decent. As a whole the Mahindra e2o takes 5 hours to charge. Considering the complete electric nature of the Mahindra e2o, the regenerative braking system included in the EV seems apt. As the city commuting involves repeated usage of brakes, on long run the energy generated through the regenerative braking system can really help in increasing the longevity of travel.

Wheels

Being an electric vehicle, the Mahindra e2o has a responsibility of offering the best in class in a vehicle so that the vehicle’s agility is also maintained without burdening it with excessive luggage. To achieve such ideal targets, Mahindra introduced155 / 70 R 13 dimension tyres. These are tubeless and hence offers a low resistance so that the smooth flow of the Mahindra e2o on roads is ensured.

Braking & Handling

The braking facility of any urban commuter remains a pre-requisite to perfect performance. If a car has to commute through the streets, it means repeated speed breakers and high traffic concerns are to be addressed. Being an electric vehicle and also running on an automatic transmission, the Mahindra e2o offers a decent braking and handling features. But unless a perfect braking system is enabled, the reduction of speed from its top 81 kmph to a mere 5 kmph becomes a really tough task. Offering a 215 mm disc brakes in the front and 180 mm drum brakes in the rear, the Mahindra e2o stands glorious in terms of braking. The Mahindra e2o has a McPherson strut front suspension which is gas filled and another gas filled shock absorber as the rear suspension. The rear suspension also has coil springs. The regenerative braking systems ensures the energy is stored when the brakes are applied so that the load on the motor in general is reduced in the long run.

Handling & Safety

The Mahindra e2o features a welded tubular structure chassis that helps it offer rigid performance in even the most unlikely situations. The frame also complies with the three crumple zones, according to the European safety norms. The colour impregnated bumpers not just give the electric vehicle a good look but also offer a safer commute to the passengers. The body panels are even dent resistant which means damage can be something which could not easily affect the passengers. The dent resistant body panels are a boon for city commuters who are bound to encounter various accidents, mostly minor for the vehicle creating dents and ultimately damaging the vehicles character. In the safe mode, which the Mahindra e2o switches to after the battery power reaches below 10 per cent, the EV operates at a reduced power so that the driving range can considerably be improved. With 10 on board computers working constantly monitoring and functioning according to the usage and the driving parameters, the e2o operates at a smooth functioning rate.

Stereo & Accessories in Mahindra e2o

The Mahindra e2o features enough accessories to classify it as a luxury hatchback. The hill hold service ensures the Mahindra e2o does not slide on the inclines. The GPS navigation provided through a 6.2 inch large screen definesthe vehicle’s commitment towards making the drive a convenient, comfortable and clever one. The remote controls offered through the dedicated Reva Apps store offer features such as social networking, traffic updates, etc., making the drive a pleasurable one.

You can now buy Mahindra e2o accessories online. Great discounts available.

Pros & Cons

Mahindra e2o Pros :
Eco-friendly, cost effective on long run, best for city commuting, spacious and stylish interiors, Reva App Store.

Mahindra e2o Cons :
Cost, battery life can be improved, top speed can be increased so that inter city travel can also be availed.

Mahindra e2o Specifications

Mahindra e2o Variants

Variants	Transmission	Engine Description	Mileage		Power	AC	Power Steering	Central Locking
			City	Highway
T0(Electric(Battery))	Automatic	3 Phasecc 2 Cylinder 8 Valve	100.0	100.0	25.5bhp @ 3750rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
T2(Electric(Battery))	Automatic	3 Phasecc 2 Cylinder 8 Valve	100.0	100.0	25.5bhp @ 3750rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard

Mahindra e2o Price

Mahindra e2o Variants Price

Mahindra e2o prices were updated on 18 Mar 2013

Variants	New Delhi	Bangalore	Mumbai	Chennai	Pune	Hyderabad	Kolkata
T0(Electric(Battery))	5,95,415	6,49,794	6,70,808	-	6,70,808	7,31,500	-	Get On Road Price
T2(Electric(Battery))	6,24,862	6,83,528	7,05,054	-	7,05,054	7,68,845	-	Get On Road Price